Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have been monitoring this very closely over the past week and a half. I have been quite concerned about it and have been making sure my team has been engaging to try to facilitate a resolution.

My Department operates a fallen animal scheme in which the Exchequer provides financial support to assist farmers with the disposal of animals that die on farm. This support is channelled through the animal collectors and rendering industry to subsidise the cost of rendering.

I am very aware of the challenge whereby renderers have recently increased their fees to animal collectors for rendering. Renderers took a decision on Friday, 1 December to no longer accept fallen animals.

My officials are continuing to engage with stakeholders to find a resolution to this issue. This engagement has included recent meetings with the Irish Category One Renderers Association, ICORA. However, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is not in dispute with either animal collectors or the rendering industry, and I have called on the renderers and collectors to engage proactively with each other to resolve their differences.

In the absence of a resolution between the two parties, in support of farmers and in recognition of the serious nature of this issue, I have acted to provide alternative options to farmers. I have now ensured animal collectors can access category 1 rendering facilities in Northern Ireland. To support collectors accessing this option, a guidance document outlining the requirements for dispatch to rendering plants in Northern Ireland has been sent to the animal collectors' association.

When a farmer discovers a fallen animal, the first contact point should be their local fallen animal collector. However, in exceptional circumstances, such as when a farmer is not able to get a collector to remove a dead animal carcase, burial on the farm may be considered. This requires a burial licence from DAFM and understandably comes with strict environmental conditions. To obtain a licence, the herdkeeper must inform the local regional veterinary office of the Department, which will provide the information required.

I am very aware of the difficulties the situation is causing for farmers and I am doing everything I can to help resolve it as early as possible.

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